Gravity mixer



fune 29 192@o A. J. SACKETT GRAVITY MIXER Filed Deo. 5, 1925 2 Shees-Sheei l l fm June 29 1926.

A. J. KET? GRAVITY MIXER Filed Dec. 1925 2' Sheets-Sheet Patented' June 2e, reas.

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Application flied necesitar 2, i325. Serial No. 753,884.

The present invention relates to a fertilizerffmixer termed in the trade a batcher which is an improved commercial structure embodying some of the basic principles' disclosed in my United States Patent No. 1,551,623.

The primary principle involved is thedistribution of the fertilizer as it is poured into the batcher among a plurality of receptacles, from which it is released simultaneously, the relative positions of the particles being changed substantially without regard to their different speciic gravities.

The form previously disclomd comprises a hopper` having a central enclosure over ywhich is a deflector, so that the material being poured from the top centre is deposited first at the sides and then overflows from the sides to the centre. The bottom ot' the hopper is in thefform .of a door which when opened releases the material from the receptacles and permits them to liow Vdownward from different sources effecting-mixing.

In the improved form there is a central nest or enclosure, and the central nest is filled first, the material thereafter being heaped up on the central nest, flows over into the sides of 'the hopper which form a; separate receptacle. Beneath the first mixing unit in the preferred form' of mixer, is a second similar unit, the mixing operation being thus repeated and perfected. The intermediate portion of the batcher is prefer ably 'further so constructed that the material from the Asides of the hopper or upper unit, as it flows downwardly, is deflected inwardly, so that it is deposited in the centre nest of the lower uni-t.

A further feature of the present'deice is :a centrally placeddefiector just above the doors, which, the doors being centrally pivoted, not only assists inthe function of turning the material outwardly from the centre to the sides, but deects the material from the central meetingr hinged edges'o'f the doors -where it would otherwise clog themand interfere with their operation. |lhe shieldno't only assists in the mixing, but makes feasible the use of centrally hung doors in this connection. V

The doors swinging downward from the centre deiiect the material from the nest toward the sides, and the side portions are partially closed by the door frame. retarding ow from the sides. The streams from the centre and sides thus being mingled at different rates of flow, effect most complete mixing.

ln the form show'n the doors of the lower mixer are operated by different mechanism from that operating the upper doors, this being for the purposes of convenience on account of the lack of space at the bottom for the vertical rack used in operating the upper doors, the door-operating means not being regarded as an important eatureot the invention. p v

A new Jeature or the catcher which is regarded. as of interest in this connection is embodied in the discharge control and mixing member at the Vlower or discharge end of the butcher. This prevents clicking and effects further mixing by accelerating part of the stream and retarding part o it.

ln the accompanying drawing l have illustratedl a fertilizer batcherembodying the features oflmy invention in the preferred form. f

In the drawing- Figure l is an elevation of the catcher complete.

Figure 2 is an elevation looking from the left in Figure l.

Figure 3 is a horizontal section on the line 3, 3 of Figure 1 looking downward.

Figure 4 is a horizontal section on the line d, 4 of Figure l' looking downward.

Figure is a fragmentary section on the line 5, 5 or' Figure e showing the bottom of one hopper.

Figure 6 is a perspective of the discharge controlv looking downwardly ait the same and from the sidel each of which is used to indicate the same or similar parts in the different figures, the

apparatus comprises abatcher casing 'l of any suitable construction, containing one or more mixer units 2, 3, the upper unit bein referred yto as a hopper, as it receives an holds theconstituents of the bat/cher as introduced. The lower unit may be referred to Jfor convenience as the lower hopper.

The apparatus, as shown, also includes a central deflect-or i for `turningthe material inward toward the centre of the lower unit B'and a discharge control 5 which prevents clogging, and Yby separating the material in eii'ect into two streams of different ve'-' locity, effects further mixing.

The material is fed to the hopper through a top central feed. opening or passage 6,

nov

and preierabl passes through the machine by gravity. he hopper mixer or top mixing unit 2 comprises a central nest 10 shown in the form of a short cylindrical upright wall open at the top and bottom and supported intermediately of the horizontal cross-section of the batclier casing, which thou h shown circular or cylindrical, may be o any preferred form, the nest likewise being of any preferred horizontal section.

ln the form shown 'the nest 10' is supported on a diametrically placed transverse member 11 in the formof an angular dedector hav ing its vertex 12 upwardly disposed and having downwardlyand outwardly inclined side surfaces 14. rlhis deilector is supported at its ends on the side walls oi. the batcher at 15 in any suitable manner. In the form shown the transverse member or shield 1i rests at its ends on an inwardly projecting horizontal ring 16 secuied to the wallsV of the batcher in any suitable manner as by angle flanges or legs 17 which may be `riveted or spct-welded or otherwise at- The lower unit in the apparatus showi'z/"iy comprises a central nest 30 which .iay be identical with the upper nest 10, centra-ily pivoted downwardly swinging ders 31,'a

shield 32 and shafts 33, all, as in? 'he mixing unit already described, placed the bottom of the hopper in the upper partfbf the batcher though the details 01E-either' unit may lbe varied without reference to the other within the scope of my invention. i

For convenience on accoulit of the lack of space at the bottom of the machine or' the play of the rack 25,"the doors v31 shown with their shafts 33 at rigl t angles to the shafts 2U- of the upper unit, are actuated by different types of mechansm. The'actnating device for the secon..mixer consists tached. The member 12, in addition to sup-appt uadrants 34 secured to the respective porting the nest 1G, acts as a shield for the meeting edges and hinges 18 of the mixer doors 19, see particularly .Figure 5, which shows this arrangement in detail. The doors i9 are shown as semi-circular and are mounted at their straight diametrical edges on hinge shafts 20 suitably supported at their ends in the walls of the butcher and preferably extend across the butcher beneath the shield 1l. The doors 19 being' pivot-ed at the centre, bear at their edges when closed against the horizontal ring 16 from beneath, swinging downwardly tlicrefrom into open position, as illustrated in dotted lines in Figure 1.

Levers 22 secured to the respective shaftsI 2() and extending outwardly therefrom, actuate the doors, the actuating means being preferably o n the .outside as shown clearly in Figures l, 2 and 'The outer swinging ends 9,4 of the levers 22 are connected to an upright rack 25 which is mounted to slide vertically along the side of the casing by means of connecting rods 2G. The rack 25 is in turn engaged by a pinion 27 on a horizontal shaft 28 mounted in bearings on suitable brackets see Figure 2) o n the side of the casing and rotated. in any suitable manner at the will of the operator as by means of a hand crank 29. l

The intermediate delector 4, as has-been already described in general terms, is in the` cylindrical form of batcher shown, a frustoconical member placed with its smaller end down, open at the diametrical ends and secured co-axially with the batcher member or casing 1 in any suitable manner as by riveting or spot-welding. At the lower portion of the machine'l have shown a second mixer unit indicated by reference character sha ts 33st their ends ov tside the casing, each quadrant being grqdlved to receive a. cable or similar tension member 35 which is secured to the periphery thereof in or adjacent the groove 36 atfthe lower and outer end of said groove, the quadrants vbein in the closed position ofthe doors, place( as shown in Figure 2,.-v orming a semi-circle on the upper side of the doors. i Y

rllhe cables 35 extend upwardly and are joined at 37 near the upper part of the easing, the single cable 38 connected to the two' cables 35 as joined at 37, being passed around and over guide shives 39 and' 40 mounted at the top of the casing and down' wardly to a drum 4l mounted below, prefer ably on the casing on a suitable bracket 42, the drum having secured thereto, co-axially therewith, a toothed gear'43which meshes with a pinion 44 on a shaft 45 suitably mounted and actuated yby suitable means in the' control of the operator, as hand crank 45.

l ll D The discharge control member 5 placedin the outlet or ischarge 'end of the butcher,

prevents clogging of the discharge opening -as fthe discharged material piles upnnd flows laterally seeking a common level, still a third or additional mixing operation is performed.

The discharge control member 5 consists of'a central straight passagev with means xfor enclosing the same 51, and radiatingv supports 62 y which the member 5 is s. ported in the discharge opening intermedi?- ately thereof.

through one passage being In the form of the Vdevice illustrated, the lower or discharge end 63 of the batcher is in the form of an inverted frust'um of a cone, the opening being at the small end or base of the frustum. The discharge control member or mixer 5 as 'shown is in the form of a central open ended cylinder or tubular member 61, the exact form of the cross-section being immaterial. The tubular vmember 6l is of an area which is a considerable proportion of the area of the discharge opening 60, and is provided with radiating plates or supports 62, which as shown are formed integrally or secured to the members 6l at their inner end and preferably inclined or otherwise formed as to their outer edges 64 to engage the truste-conical member 63 whereby the passage member 61 is spaced away from the walls of themember 63. This arrangement provides a central-vertical passage 6l through which the material flows at comparatively rapid rate, and circumferential passages 65 having converging walls through which the material flows at a comparatively slower rate on account of the tendency to clog and lill the entrance. A portion of the material is thus quickly delivered, and other portions are checked and delivered at a slower rate, the part flowing taken from the centre, and the part flowing through the other passage being taken from the sides of the batch. In this way a most eicient mixing of the portions ot' the material at the centre and sides will be accomplished. The straight centre passage also prevents clogging and the velocity of the material from this passage contacting with that from the side passages, keeps both passages open.

The details and operation of the various units have been fully discussed in the description and` the functions thereof have been outlined in the preamble, so that the operation of themachine will be well understood.

The material. being introduced at the centre through the top opening G will be first deposited in the top unit in/ the central nest, and' on filling the nest, will overflow 'the Walls to the outside` the l `filled up as indicated@adotted lines in Fi ure l. The doors of tli first unit being then opened, the material will iow downward through the funnel-like member 4 from the centre and sides, the material at the sides being more or less checked, The annuliens. ousl delivery of the materials from the two receptacles, and the dill'ereut rates of feeding and a central delivery of all the materials gives a most ellicient mixing of the materials at the sides and centre.

The funnel iat the. centre again deposits the material tirst in the central nest or" the second unit trom which point it overflows to the sides, and iills up the lower unit or centre being then hopper as indicated in Figure 1 in dotted 'lines therein. The bottom doors being then Opened, the material is again released and the mixing operation described above is repeated by the discharge ot' the material lfrom .centre and sides at different rat-es and simul-` taneously. The material is then deposited in the discharge member 63 at this oint, the flow at the sides being checked by the tapering opening 65 and accelerated by the straight opening 6l at the centre, the iiow of the material from the .sides beiiig more 0r less maintained by the friction of the downwardly flowing stream at the centre, a still further mixingv is accomplished. This is due tothe dillerences in rate ot feed and to the delivery of the material from the sides 'and the centre at` the same point, as already outlined.- The discharged material is thus passed through three successive mixing operations.

While the structure described provides for three mixing operations, as outlined, it is, of course, apparent that the scope of the invention is not limited to the number and arrangement of the mixing units or their relative positions, which may be widely varied without departure from the features of the individual units or from the characteristic features ot this batcher. v' f" I have described specifically and in detail a single embodiment otl my invention in order that the nature and operation of the preferred form thereorn may be fully understood; however, the'specii'ic terms herein are used descriptively rather than in a limiting sense, the scope of theinvention being defined in the claims.

W'hat Iclaim and ters Patent is:

1. In an apparatus for mixing comminuted materials, a removable support for all the materials, an upright wall intermediately of said support, an upright wall atthe sides of the support, means for depositing the material to be mixed on the side of the first-mentioned wall: remote from the side wall, permitting it to accumulate and overflow between the first-mentioned wall and the side wall, and means for moving the -`support whereby the accumulations yon the. tivo sides ofy the tirst--mentioned/Wall are released and permitted to lioiv downwardly,

2. n an apparatus Yfor mixing comminuted materials, a removable support for the materials to be mixed, an upright wall intermediateiy of said support, an upright Wall at the sides ot the support, means for depositing the material to be mixed on the side of the first-mentioned said wall, remote from the side wall, permitting it to accumulate and overflow between the firstinentioned wall and the side wall, means for removing the support whereby the accumulations on the two sides desire to secure by Letot the first-menthe nest whereby when the door opened,

tbematerial accumulated both'inside and .outside the nest is released and permitted 'to ioW downwardly. f

4. In a gravity mixer, a hopper having a' central enclosure open at the top, n door closing,r the bottom of the hopper-including said enclosure aud other porti ons-of the hop per, Athe enclosiu'e being spaced inwardly from the outside walls of the hopper, and means for depositing' material in the enciosure and permitting it to acciunnlnte therein and flow over the top of the en-f closure to a position in the hopper outside the enclosure whereby when the door is open, the material accumulated both inside and outside the enclosiufe is released and perinitted to 'flow downwardly, nud means for retaidingg` the flow of the material deposited outside the nest. y

5. A mixture for coinininuted materials having a hopper with an inside enclosure therein open et the iop, the enclosure being spaced from a side of the hopper, means for depositingmaterial Within the enclosure, permittingit, to overflowat the sides` and a door at the bottom ot' the hopper fintcisected by ihe Wall of said'enclosure.I i

6. .in an apparatus for mixing comluinuted materials comprising a hopper having a nest spaced inwardly away from the side of the hopper, means for introducing' material into the nest, the nest being open at the top to permit the material afteaccumulating.; therein to fion' over the sides and fill the re- 'inainder of the hopper, doors pivotcd intermediately oi' he hopper to swing downs 'ardly at the sides, said doors closing the bottom o1" 'the nest and portions oit the hopper heiveen vthe nest and the sides; of the hopper.

7. ln an al'iparatus for mixing;- eomminuted imiteriale comprising a hopper having a nest snuced inwardly from the side of the hopper, oleane for introducing material into the nest, the nest being open at the top to permit the meterial after accumulating therein to low over the sides and lill the remainder of the hopper, doors pivoted intermediaiely of the hopper to swing downwardly at the sides, said doors (LiesingF the bottom of the nest and portions of the hopper between the nes; and the sides of the hopper, and a deiector for shielding the pivoted edges of the door and preventing the deposit of the materiel there ietween.

8. In an apparatus for niixing comminnted materials, a hopper hanvingiY a nest open at the top spaced inwardly from the Sides'of the hopper with feeding Vmeans for deposit ing the material to he mixed in the nest and pcrn'iitting it to overiow the sides of the nest after it has accumulated therein, e door closing the bottoiulo' the nest and other portions of the hopper, second hoppcrhew ing a similar' nest and a corresponding door beneath the first-mentioned hopper, means between the hop ers 'for turning the material inwardly towan the centre y l). in an apparatusv for mixing cornn'iinut-- ed materials, a hopper having e nest open at the `op spaced inwardly from the Sides of the hopper with feeding means for deposting the mater-iid to be mixed in the'nest and permit-ting it to overflow the sides of the nest after it inisaecumulated therein, e door closing the bottom of the nest and other portions of the lioplier, a second hopper having a similar nest and a corresponding door eneath the Erst-mentioned hopper, means be` tween the hoppers 'for turningthe material inwardly toward the centre, means for lead# ing the material downwardly from these ond hopper and discharging it, including a discharge control comprising an unobstructed Ivertical passage and downwardly tap-ee ing` passages at the sides. y

l0. In an apparatus for mixin dry ma terials, an pperimixing unitl havn/ig a nest open nt the top, side Walls enclosing and extending above the nest, the nest being' spaced inwardly from the side Walls, a feed opening directing the materiel intoithe nest, a door closing,7 the bottom of the mixing' unit, inea-.ns below the mixing unit for turm ing the material inward toward the center of the apparatus, a second mixing unit also comprising a nest and side Walls extending above the nest and spaced away from lthc' nest, a door closing the bottom, of' the mir Linn' nnii. 4

il In an. apparatc for mining dry materials, an upper mixiz'igg unit havingI n neet l. "l

open :it the top, side Walls enciosing and extending above 'the nest, the 'nest beingr spaced inwardly from the side Walls, a feed opening directingl the material rinto the nest, a door closingY the bottom of the mixing unit, means below the mixing:y unit for turning the material inward toward the centre of the apparains, a. second mixing unitl alsocomprising nest and side wals extending above the nest and spaced away from the nest, a door closingv the bottom of the mii-:ing unit, discharging means and a discharge control har ing a substantially vertical downward pasi v sage, and a side passage of downwardly decreasinzgr crossseetion.

Ithe walls of the hopper, a defiecting shieid covering the hinged edges of the doors, 1Q' means or depositing material in the nest, and a second mixing unit beneath the Erst mixing unit. Signed by me at Baltimore, Maryland; this 1st day of December, 1925. AUGUSTUS J. SACKETT. 

